THE DISTURBANCE OF PENDULUM AND GYROSCOPIC APPARATUS BY THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE

Dr. Maximilian Schuler (Translated by J. M. Slater)

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	THE FOLLOWING IS A TRASSLATION Of an article written by Dr. Maximilian Schuler and published by the Journal of Physics, Volume XXIV, July 1923, Kiel, Germany. The article is concerned with the behavior of pendulums and gyroscopic apparatus when subjected to horizontal accelerations or change in direction of motion. Dr. Schuler’s discussion of this behavior provides the basis for a general principle of physics applicable to such apparatus, dealing with the unique property of a pendulum, or other equivalent oscillatory dynamical system, having a period (derived in terms of the earth’s radius and the acceleration of gravity) of 84 minutes. According to this principle, such a pendulum will remain vertical, under any arbitrary acceleration of the carrier vehicle over the surface of the earth. Thus, an inertial navigation system with a gyrostabilized accelerometer platform can be “tuned” to the so-called Schuler period of 84 minutes, and will give correct readings under all conditions of acceleration, unlike navigation systems based on short-period vertical or level references which are subject to error when accelerated.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 14, Number 1
Pages:	26 - 32
Cite this article:	Slater), Dr. Maximilian Schuler (Translated by J. M., "THE DISTURBANCE OF PENDULUM AND GYROSCOPIC APPARATUS BY THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 14, No. 1, Spring 1967, pp. 26-32.
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